US381093A - teener - Google Patents

Description

(No Model v Q 6 heetv-Sheefi. J. TURNER,

- JS'WITOH AND SIGNAL TERLOGKIN I. i No. 381,093. jPatentedApnlmf1,888. F

v (No Modl.) 6 sheets-sn er, 2.

- I J. .J. TURNER, SWITCH AND SIGNAL INTERLOGKING." ,No. 381,093.

Patented Apr. 10,1888.

(No Model.) 6 ShetS -Sheet 5.

J. J. TURNER. q SWITCH AND SIGNALINTERLOUKING. 7

No. 381,093.. Patented Apr. 10,1888;-

Nv PETEHS, Phulu-Llthugmphlr. Washington, D. C.

mama e 1.) '7 v JJJ. TURNER I SWITGH AND SIGNALINTERLOGKING.

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, UNITED STATES PATENT L To aZZ whom/it may concern:

JAMES J. 'runnnn, on nronnonn, I DIANA, Assienon TonrMsnLrtANn JOHN F. MILLER, or SAME PLACE. j

SWIITCH-ANDSIGINAL INKTERLOCKING. i,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Il'netters Patent No. 381,093, dated AprillO,

Application filed March 3, 1887. SerialNo. 229,492. (No model.)

Be it known that I, JAMES J. TURNER, of Richmond, county of Wayne, and State of Indiana, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Switch and Signal Interlocking, of which the following is a-true andexact de-. scr1ption, due reference being had to'the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification. 7

My improvement relates to the well-knownclass of devices by which railway switches, signals, and switch-locks are so interlocked as to prevent a safety-signal being given ex.-

cept when the route governed by it isclear and all conflicting signals locked to danger.

The object of my invention is to provide improved devices for interlocking the actuating-levers by means of theirlatches.

My invention consists, first, of a novel combination of the lever-latches. with movable segments and a rotating shaft connected with the interlocking frame, wherebythe shaft is partially ,rotated by the disengaging of the latch and its full movement completed bythe engagement of the latch after the lever has been thrown; second, in'the combination of the rotating shafts actuated by the lever latches with rotating shafts crossingbut not intersecting the same and actuated by them through spiral gear-wheels; third, in the com bination of the shafts actuated by the latches and the shaftscrossing and actuated by the said shafts, with rotating locking-dogs-arranged in pairs where the shafts cross each other and so placed thatthe switch, switch-look, and sigrial-actuating levers can only be unlatched and moved in a proper regulated sequence; fourth,

' in a special locking device whereby the movement of one lever is madeabsolutely dependent upon the relative movement of two other levers-as,for instance, the movement of a signal-lever being made dependent upon the relative movement of two switchlevers; lastly,

in improved devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and by means. of which my improved interlocking system is perfected andadapted for use.

Reference being now hadto the drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof one end of the levers and interlocking frames embodying'my invention.

they would occupynn Fig. 2 is a side view of one lever, showingits connection with a rotating shaft and with the I V interlocking frame. Figs. 3, 4, and 5, show the various positions of the crank-arms on the.

rotating shaft. actuated'by thefleverduring r theoperation of unlatchin g, moving thelever,

and again latching'it'; Fig. 6 is a perspective latch segment, and shaft, showing also a por-' tion of the interlocking frame.

Fig. 7-isa view of apair of my improved rotatinglockview, of one of my levers with its connected 60' ing-dogs. Figs. 8, 9,-and 10 are perspective a views of myimprove'd rotating locking-dogs,

illustrating the manner in which they mutually nected shafts. Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14,-andf15are views of my improved device forcausing the motion of one shaft to dependon the relative movement of two other shafts, showing,re-

spectively, the different'positions taken by the lock during the movementfof the two gov erning-shafts. H y from a point at right angles to that of the viewsin Figs. 12 to 15. Fig. 17 is a plan of Fig. 16 shows the above device I intersecting tracks,'sh'owing the various1ele= ments to be'interlocked and my plan of 'aca view of my interlocking frame, showing the various shafts as interlocked in the positions the conditionof the system indicated in Fig.17. H A is the frame in which the levers are secured, the levers being. pivoted at a. Y :A is an arched segment secured to frame A' and provided with detents a for the leverlatches. I t 1 .complishing such interlocking, and Fig. 18118- A is. a hanger having a slot, aflwhich serves as a guide for the movable segment which act-- uates the shaft. I I

BB, 850., are thelev ers,which have slotsb in them to guidethe latches b.-

B is the latch-handle, b", a oontin uation of I the latchyal'so guided in the slot 6, and to which is attached the pin b 7 I Bis a T-head onthe 'lever B, and B and B rods actuating switches, &c. A I

O is a curved segment having aslot, Q', -in Y which fits and moves the pin b G is a guide-pin attached to the center of G and adapted to. rest in the slot of of the hanger At.

a lock and release eachother and their conj C are slotted lifting-blocks pivoted at each end of the segments 0 upon pivots c.

C are slots adapted to receive the crankarms of the rotating shaft D, which has bearing in the frame A, said crank-arms D D being arranged at an angle of about forty-five degrees to each other.

d is a locking-plate secured on shaft D between its crank-arms D D its function being to prevent the shaft rotating during the throw of the lever B. v

E E are spiral gear-wheels secured, respectively, to the shafts D and the cross'shafts G, and by means of which the shafts G are caused to revolve.

F Fare my improved rotating locking-dogs, arranged, respectively, on the shafts D and cross-shafts G in pairs so placed as to produce the required interlocking between them.

G are cross shafts held in an interlocking frame, and, as before stated, actuated by the shafts D, and interlocked with them by means of the dogs F F. V

H H are eccentrics secured on the shafts D; I I, eccentric rings and levers actuating the forked lever J.

K is a collar sliding freely on a shaft and actuated through lever J, and having a guidepin, it, and slot 7c, adapted to engage with a feather, L, secured to the shaft on which it slides.

N is a guide in which the pin 7c rests and slides, and M a special device which is shown as an element of the system indicated in Figs. 17 and 18, but which is not my invention and need not therefore be particularly described.

The operation of my interlocking system may readily be followed on the drawings. In Figs. 1 and 6 the levers B are shown as in the same position and latched. When it is desired to move an element actuated by one of these levers, the latch b is drawn up out of the detent a, and this upward movement of the latch also raises the segment 0 by means of the pin 1) to the position shown in Fig. 2. The slotted lifting-block c? nearest to the pin b is of course raised with the upward movement of the segment 0, and by its movement a partial turn is given to the shaft D by means of the crank-arm D This turn of the shaft D throws the crank D from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, andlturns the locking-plate (2 into the vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 2. The lever B is now thrown back, its side resting against or close to the lockingplate (1 during the whole of the throw, and the shaft D being therefore securely locked in the angular position brought about by the lifting of the latch. XVhen the throw of the lever is completed, the latch is allowed to fall into the detent a on the other side of the arched segment A and the pin b presses down the back end of the segment 0 and the liftingblock attached to it,which, acting on the crankarm D, causes the shaft D to complete its revolving motion, the crank-arms being brought to the position shown in Fig. 5. The return movement of the lever is made in the same way, and the shaft D thereby returned to its initial position.

It is unnecessary to describe the connection of the levers B with the various elements'of the route governed by them, as any approved plan may be used, and this forms no part of my present invention.

The shafts D are prolonged into the interlocking frame, in which also are secured rotating shaft-s G, crossing and lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the shafts D.

Upon each of the shafts Gis secured a spiral gear-wheel, E, which engages with a similar gear, E, attached to one of the shafts D. The number of shafts G will vary with the combinations and number of conflicting elements in the interlocked routes.

Upon each shaft D as it traverses the interlocking frame are secured locking-dogs F, which engage with locking-dogs F, secured upon shafts G, which are actuated -by levers which should be moved in a certain relative order with the lever actuating such shaft D.

As will at once be seen, the shafts D, which are connected with shafts Gby means of the spiral gears E E, give to such shafts a movement of rotation coincident with their own, and the angular movement of the locking-dogs secured on the crossing shafts being fixed and known, their angular position onthe shafts and their relative size and clearance can be determined in each case, so that they may engage and disengage accordi ng to the determined order of movement of the actuating-levers. The construction and arrangement of these locking-dogs are clearly shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10. In Fig. 8 the dog F is locked by the dog F. In Fig. 9 the dogs are disengaged and either shaft may be revolved, while in Fig. 10 the dog F is locked by the dog F, these three figures showing, substantially, the combinations of which any one pair of locking-dogs are capable.

In Fig. 18 may be seen a complete interlocking system adapted to the conditions shown in the plan Fig. 17, in which 0 O, &c., repre sent signalconnections, P P, 8tc., switch-conneetioris, and R R, &c., switch-lock connections, and one skilled in the art can readily follow the interlocking, as shown in Fig. 18, or modify it to suit the conditions of any particular case.

I have found it desirable in some cases to actuate two signals with one lever, making the signal thrown depend upon the position of one of the switches governed by such signals-as, for instance, lever 2 actuates signals 2 and 2 in Fig. 17, according to the position of the switch 4. By an invention which, as it is also applicable to other systems of interlocking, I have made the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent I cause the throwing of the lever-actuating switches 4 and 4*, Fig. 17, to effect a change in the signal-connection actuated by the lever 2. Thus,whenswitches 4 and4" are set for the main line, lever 2 would actuate signal 2, and when said switches are set for thesiding or throw-off the "same lever would actuate signal 2. It is evident that in such a case where a single lever is alternately connectedwith signals governing different routes the system of locking-dogs heretofore described could notbe so arran'gedas-to insure that the route was properly set before the signal safety wasgiven. To povide for'such cases I have devised the arrangement shown in Figs. 11 to 16, Fig. ll-showing the position of 4 D and 6 D, the shafts actuated by levers 4 and 6, Fig. 17, corresponding with the arrangement of trackshown in said figure, lever end of featherL by means of the strap and rod 4 having set-switches 4 and 4 for the main line and lever 6having setswitches 6? and 6" for the siding or throw-off. It is safe to'throw lever 2 to actuate signal 2, the actuating-lever of which has its shaft 2-D, Fig..18, connected by gears E E with the cross-shaft 2 G..

The results of closing the line shown open" in Fig. 17 and of. opening the line shown there as closed can be readily followed in Figs. 11 to 15. The signal 2 being set to .danger,

the feather L on the shaft 2" G'is in line with slot It in sleeve K. The unlatchingof lever 4 to set switch 4 for the siding rotates the shaft 4 D to the position shownin Fig. 12, and

the eccentric Hdraws the sleeve K over the- I and forked lever-J. .The resultof relatching this lever is shown in Fig. 13. Unlatch ing lever 6 to set switches .6? 'and 6 for the main line moves the collarK back, as shown in Fig. 14, and the relatching of this lever in the position whichsetsthe switches 6 and 6 for the mainline moves the collar Kback to a position which disengages it from feather L and leaves lever 2 free. again to move and actuate signal 2";

I have now described my improvements as shown inthe drawings 'and in what I believe to be their best andmost efficient form. It will at once be seen, however, that in'many 7 details the deviceas' shownjcan'be modified or changed without departure from theinvention or substantial difference in the mode of operation. Thus, instead of the straight and curved slots shown as guides and bearings,

any desired form: of guide or bearing may be substituted. The slotted blocks 0 need not necessarily be pivoted on the ends 0% the segment O,but canbe rigidlysecuredthereto, or they'may, of course, be replaced by a swinging link or pitman "hinged on the segment 0 and I to the crank-arms of shaft D. 'Other similar uses of one well known mechanical equivalent for another might be pointed out; but it is unnecessary-to do so, aswhat I have said will indicate that my claims are notintended to be confined to the precise arrangement of the parts as shown,'save where this is distinctly expressed in'such claims.

Having now described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire lto secure by Letters I Patent is- 1. m aswitch and signal interlocking device, the combination of the latch ofthe actii- 7o Q ating-lever with a movable. segment, 0, con nected with and operated by said latch and.

having crank-operating devices atjeach end, I V and a rotating shaft having crank-arms formed I in it at 'an'angle' of about forty;five degrees with each other, saidshaftconnecting with-an interlockingframe.

tion during the unlatching of the leveiyl'is locked against the lever untilit has completed o 5' its throw and is in position to be latched agaln. 1 3. In a, switch and signal interlocklng device, the combination, in a frame, of the actuating-lever having a latch secured to and actuw ating a movable segment, 0,- and through 1t;a19'5 rotating shaft having crank-arms, all substantially. as specified, and the detent-segment A, having detents a a, corresponding to the'two normal positions of theactuating-lever, said i segment being of circular outline betweenthe 10o detents, so as to hold the latch stationary dur g ing the throw. of the lever. i 4. In 'a' switch and signal interlocking device, the combination, in a frame,.-of-the-slotted actuating-lever having a latch-extension I05 moving in said slot and connected with a slot- 7 g ted segment, 0, having crank-actuating devices attached to each end, and the shaft D, having crank-arms, substantially as shown; and de:

scribed, said segment being guided in a verti- .I 10

cal direction by a slotted hanger, A. v 5.111 a switch and signal interlocking de v vice, the combination, w th rotatingshaftsfin the interlocking frame, connected with and I actuated bythelat'chesof theactuatingrlevers, 5 7 of rotating shafts actuated-by the shafts con-'1 nected with the lever-latches by spiral gearwheels, said two systems of shaftingcrossing "but not intersecting each other in parallel planes, so that locking devices can be secured 12 to the shafts in'such manner as to interlock V any desired sequence. I

6. In a switch and signal interlocking dc I vice,'the combination of the, movablesegments I 25 0, connected with and actuated by the leverlatches, the shafts D, having crank-arms D? D, said shafts extending across the interlocking 1 frame, and a system of shafts crossing but not i any shaft with any other shaftor'lever andin 3 intersecting the shafts D in said interlocking I39 frame, said shafts being connected withLand I actuated by shafts D.

7 In a switch and signal interlocking device, the combination of shafts D, connected with and actuated by the latches of the actuating-levers, the transverse system of shaft-s G G, 850., connected with and actuated by the shafts D through spiral gears E E, and the rotating locking-dogs F F; secured to the upper and lower system of shaft-s in pairs at their points of intersection.

8. In a switch and signal interlocking device, the combination of a system of rotating shafts connected with and operated by the latches of the actuating-levers, a system of rotating shaftscrossing but not intersecting the first shaft system and actuated by it, substantiall y as described, and the device for making the movement of any lever dependent on the relative position of two other levers, which consists of the cams H H, secured to twoshafts connected with the two levers whose relative position is to govern the third lever, the feather L, secured in a cross-shaft connected with the third lever, the cam-rings and connecting-rods I I, the lever J, and the slotted sleeve K, all

connected and operatingsubstantially as shown 2 5 and described. I

- JAMES J. TURNER. Witnesses:

LISLE STOKES, JOSHUA MATLAoK, Jr.

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